Question paper leakage rocks question hour in Assembly
Probe underway: Education Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2020: An enquiry has been instituted to find out how question papers of Class XI examination conducted by Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) leaked and the Government has been working to book all the culprits, asserted Education Minister Th Radheshyam on the floor of the Assembly today.

Opposition MLA Kh Joykisan raised a call attention motion on the leakage of question papers and subsequent postponement of the Class XI examination.

He said that if someone had not disclosed the leakage and uploaded the leaked question papers on Facebook, the examination would have been held without any disruption but it would have seriously undermined the purpose of holding the examination.

Question paper leakage rocks question hour in Assembly

Asking as to how the question papers got leaked and whether the culprits have been booked, Joykisan urged the Government to ensure that such lapses do not take place in future.

Responding to the call attention motion, Education Minister Th Radheshyam said that the Government does not take the issue of question leakage lightly.

One major problem in education sector has been the practice of mass copying.

Lack of sincerity on the part of teachers, parents and guardians is the major factor responsible for question leakage, Radheshyam said.

Generally, question papers for Class XI examination are set by COHSEM and they are kept at police stations close to exam centres.

These question papers are handed over to exam centres on the day of exam, said the Education Minister.

This time, a joint meeting was held among teachers, Principals and examination committee from February 3 to 5 on prevention of mass copying and improvement of examination system, he informed the House.

As suggested by many during the meeting to keep faith in Principals and not to harbour any suspicion, a resolution was adopted and question papers were handed over to Principals after they were neatly packed, Radheshyam said.

The Class XI examination commenced on February 17 and it should continue till February 26 and so far examination had been held for two subjects.

As for the remaining subjects, the examination has been re-scheduled following leakage of question papers yesterday.

The question papers were neatly packed when they were handed over to Principals and if any of the packages are found broken, it would be easily known that the question papers have been opened.

To find out who is responsible for the leakage, an enquiry would be held, the Education Minister told the House.

If the COHSEM staff are found responsible for the leakage, befitting action would be initiated.

And if the culprits turn out to be Principals of private schools, the particular schools would be de-recognised, said the Education Minister.

In case, Principals of Government schools are found guilty for the question leakage, necessary action would be initiated as per rules.

Those responsible for the leakage would be booked definitely, he asserted.